Identification of scientists making long‐term, high‐impact contributions, with notes on their methods of working

Root‐Bernstein, Robert; Bernstein, Maurine; Gamier, H.

doi:10.1080/10400419309534491

Cited by 64 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…As the person is pushed by these events, it is expected that those with a pre-existing tendency of behavior aligned with openness will extract more from those “pushes” than those with an opposite tendency. On the whole, the characteristics associated with openness as a personality trait are in line with both the theoretical descriptions of polymathic behavior in Araki (2018 , 2015) and Burke (2012) , and the empirical findings by Cotellessa (2018) ; Sriraman (2009) , as well as the data, interviews and tests collected by Eiduson (1960 , 1962 , 1966) , and later analyzed by Root-Bernstein et al (1993 , 1995 , 2008) and Root-Bernstein and Root-Bernstein (2020a) . In sum, given that both polymathy and openness entail the exploration of one’s interests to a large extent, and the thinking beyond artificial disciplinary boundaries ( Burke, 2012 ; Cohen, 2015 ), one could expect that those commonalities would be reflected in an intimate relationship between the two constructs.…”

Section: Trait Polymathy and Resilience In The Covid-19 Crisissupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Cotellessa (2018) found that individuals with accomplishments in either arts or sciences and with significant expertise in the other area face unique contradictions, challenges and benefits, that are particular of their polymathic profile. Relatedly, Root-Bernstein et al (1993 , 1995 , 2008) ; Root-Bernstein and Root-Bernstein (2020a) found that eminent creators and leaders (Nobel prize laurates) tend to be unusually polymathic—i.e., they put a significant amount of time and effort in activities that are outside their common professional range—whereas their less successful counterparts tend not to engage so much in interests outside their common disciplinary boundaries.…”

Section: The Conceptual Domain Of Polymathymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Creative Polymathy and the COVID-19 Crisis

Araki

Cotellessa

2020

Front. Psychol.

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It is increasingly argued that polymathy—vocational and avocational pursuits in multiple domains—is deeply associated with creativity and innovation, and that its development enables the creation of important bridges between otherwise fragmented, dispersed sets of knowledge. Nevertheless, the dominant culture in both industry and academia is still that of narrow specialization. In this paper, we argue that in the context of COVID-19 crisis, with its wicked and transdisciplinary nature, the disciplinary approach of specialization is ill-suited to solve our increasingly complex problems, and that polymathic thinking can be a crucial asset in this regard. Drawing on different literature strands, we first examine the interplay between polymathy and other well-developed constructs in personality and temperament research. We then advance theoretical predictions regarding the relationship between trait polymathy and resilience in the COVID-19 crisis. After that, we discuss learnable strategies that can be used in complex, uncertain and adverse situations, which are associated with development of a more polymathic (broader, deeper and more integrated) set of knowledge. Later, we discuss how it may be possible to better capitalize on the key features of polymathic thinking at the societal level. Finally, we conclude with a reflection on the adequacy of our current institutions for dealing with complex problems, and we underscore the crucial role of polymathic thinking in an increasingly complex and interrelated world.

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Section: Trait Polymathy and Resilience In The Covid-19 Crisissupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: The Conceptual Domain Of Polymathymentioning

confidence: 99%

Creative Polymathy and the COVID-19 Crisis

Araki

Cotellessa

2020

Front. Psychol.

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“…By this measure, all were successful. Unlike previous studies that examined differences between average scientists and high-achieving STEMM professionals as measured by numbers of high-impact papers and honors such as Nobel Prizes or membership in the National Academies or Royal Society (9,10,19), this study utilized criteria such as patents filed or licensed, companies founded, papers or books published, or copyrights granted to explore what skills may contribute to different ways of succeeding professionally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation between tools for thinking; arts, crafts, and design avocations; and scientific achievement among STEMM professionals

Root‐Bernstein

Dyke²,

Peruski

et al. 2019

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Previous studies of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical (STEMM) professionals have identified a common “mental toolkit” composed of 13 “tools for thinking” that STEMM professionals use in their problem raising and problem solving. The present research surveyed a convenience sample of 225 STEMM professionals to investigate whether these “thinking tools” are correlated with STEMM achievement measured variously as patents filed or licensed, companies founded, number of papers and books published, and copyrights assigned. Some mental skills such as modeling and playing are significantly correlated with patent filings and licenses, and others are correlated with different measures of STEMM achievement. Previous research has also demonstrated that some of these thinking tools, most notably visual thinking skills, can be taught through various arts, crafts, and design (ACD) practices, resulting in significant improvements in STEMM learning outcomes. The present research therefore investigates in the survey pool whether ACD are associated with the same measures of STEMM achievement as thinking tool use. Correlations exist between use of some thinking tools and particular ACD avocations: Modeling and playing are correlated with persistent crafts avocations such as metalworking, woodworking, and mechanics, which are, in turn, significantly correlated with patent production. Most survey participants were explicitly aware of the connections between their ACD avocations; their STEMM work; and the tools, skills, and knowledge derived from the former. We conclude that integrating ACD with STEMM content by means of tools for thinking may be an effective way to achieve improved STEMM learning outcomes.

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“…Nonetheless, it must be emphasized that this continuity does not mean that the scientist is conducting the same investigation over and over again with only minor variations. On the contrary, influential researchers tend to engage in several projects simultaneously, each dealing with a different problem or issue (Hargens, 1978; Root-Bernstein, Bernstein, & Garnier, 1993; Simon, 1974; Taylor, Locke, Lee, & Gist, 1984). However, these diverse investigations are interconnected to constitute what Gruber (1989) called a “network of enterprises.” Great scientists neither focus on a single narrow topic nor flip randomly around from topic to topic without rhyme or reason.…”

Section: Individuals: High-impact Research Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Status of Disciplines, Individuals, and Ideas: Empirical Analyses of the Potential Impact of Theory

Simonton

2006

Review of General Psychology

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The place of theory in scientific research can be subjected to empirical investigation. This possibility is illustrated by examining three issues. First, what determines a scientific discipline's placement in a hypothesized hierarchy of the sciences? This was addressed in an analysis of the characteristics that distinguish various disciplines, including attributes bearing an explicit connection to the role of theory. Second, what individual research programs are most likely to have a long-term impact on a scientific discipline? This was examined by looking at how thematic organization and theoretical orientation influence a scientist's disciplinary visibility. Third, what are the features of scientific publications that render some more successful in terms of long-term influence? This question was addressed by examining how theoretical content determines the impact of journal articles.

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Identification of scientists making long‐term, high‐impact contributions, with notes on their methods of working

Cited by 64 publications

References 16 publications

Creative Polymathy and the COVID-19 Crisis

Creative Polymathy and the COVID-19 Crisis

Correlation between tools for thinking; arts, crafts, and design avocations; and scientific achievement among STEMM professionals

Scientific Status of Disciplines, Individuals, and Ideas: Empirical Analyses of the Potential Impact of Theory

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